Endless Night
The cycle was drawing to a close. The four sat near the park, watching the sky. The silence of what had happened earlier hung between them. No one dared bring up Bohdi's near brush with death, or Beck's freeze. Not now, not in this moment. For now, they would try and pretend it didn't exist.
Finally, Mara broke the silence.
"Hey guys?"
"Hm." Zed was the first to reply, but he didn't turn his gaze from the sky.
"What do you think is out there?"
Zed shrugged, "Other than other programs? Nothing."
"You think so?"
"I know so. Flynn has been gone for too long for it to be another User."
"ISOs, maybe?" Bohdi piped up.
"All derezzed, remember?"
Beck had long stopped listening. He watched the sky, blank and dark…
"Beck!"
He jumped as Bohdi elbowed him.
"What?"
"What do you think is out there?"
"Well…" he shook his head, "I-I don't know…"
"Liar!"
"Come on, tell us!"
"Okay!" Beck let in, "Someone once told me…that the Users are watching over us. That their greatest programs are watching over us, leading us….
Mara listened. However, after a moment of silence and an exchanged glanced, Bohdi and Zed burst out laughing.
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" Zed exclaimed.
Beck gave a forced chuckle, "Yeah. Pretty dumb, huh?"
"I thought it was interesting." Mara commented, glancing to Beck.
"Who told you that?" Zed continued.
Beck's smile faded as he looked away.
"…My father."
The laughter died down quickly and they turned to see Beck walking into the Outlands. Perhaps he hadn't realized he had said that.
"Wait…what happened to his father?" Bohdi asked, only for Mara to shrug.
Beck stopped finally, back to the city, facing the sky.
"Tron…" he whispered. "You promised."
He had said he would always be there….
You said you would always be there.
If you are…..
He looked to his hands, trembling.
Then why do I feel so alone?
He looked back to the sky. He sniffed.
"You promised."